In the run-up to the 2015 Nagoya Basho, on June 20 it was announced in the domestic media that former ozeki Takanonami had passed away at age 43.
Incredibly popular in his day, the Aomori-born wrestler first entered professional sumo as a teen in 1987.
At the time he was known by his real name of Namioka. Greats such as Chiyonofuji, Hokutoumi and Konoshiki were making most of the headlines.
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